Calls for full investigation into pay rises awarded to senior council officials

A Caerphilly councillor has called for a full investigation into the way senior managers at the authority were awarded huge pay rises.

A Caerphilly councillor has called for a full investigation into the way senior managers at the authority were awarded huge pay rises.

Independent councillor Anne Blackman said such an inquiry should consider the possibility of disciplinary action against any officer deemed to have acted inappropriately.

Last month we revealed how 20 senior managers at Caerphilly council had received pay rises of up to 30% following a behind-closed-doors meeting in September attended by five councillors.

Chief executive Anthony O’Sullivan wrote a report that recommended increases for himself and senior colleagues at a time when most of the staff were on the third year of a pay freeze. Mr O’Sullivan’s salary rose by up to £35,000 to £158,000.

Following two staff protests organised by the trade union Unison and an angry response from the public, members of the ruling Labour group apologised and said the possibility of rescinding the rises would be investigated.

A series of criticisms has been made about the way the rises were implemented, including the vast majority of councillors claiming they were not send paperwork relating to the rises.

Coun Blackman said: “I am confused as to why neither political party at Caerphilly council have so far suggested setting up a committee of councillors to investigate how these large awards to senior staff were awarded.

“Such a committee can be set up under the council’s constitution.

“What has gone so terribly wrong is that the majority of councillors were not informed that the meeting was taking place, nor were we given copies of the report to be discussed.

“Furthermore, it appears the public were not informed the meeting was taking place, either.

“One has to ask whether the meeting was properly constituted under the council’s own constitution.

“If not, were the decisions taken at that meeting legal and binding?”

Coun Blackman said an inquiry of the kind she was proposing could look at whether there was misconduct by senior officers.

Plaid Cymru opposition group leader Colin Mann said: “I know the Wales Audit Office is looking into the way the rises were awarded, and would be very surprised if it was considered that everything had been done in line with best practice.”

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